Making a left turn in Florida?

[momrek06]

I HATE 4 way stops.

I agree...I hate 4 way Stops...no one can use them and they scare the heck out of me...some just go flying through them, others wait, and wait too long and then cars creep up and stop and then wait again and then look and someone is going and then someone waves someone to go when it is not their turn......ugggg......


Just moved to CA...not too many rotaries out here BUT every single light has TWO left turn lanes. They seemed very organized here in CA. I will say there is ALLOT of traffic. Most towns/cities in the OC, SoCal have 6 (or more) lanes of traffic. 2 lanes going to the left, 1 to the right and 3 OR 4 lanes going straight.

AND they even have stop lights at the end of the on ramps to the highway so that you are actually in a "que" to enter. Very good idea. Having driven my whole life in MA (where that can be crazy)this despite all the traffic can be very easy.

So to the OP, no one has to move into the intersection...they wait for their light and go.

I will say I see ALLOT of U-turns here. More than MA. In MA they frown on that allot...I got a ticket in MA once for doing that....

 

[rparmfamily]

I think obviously if there is a break or no oncoming traffic, you should go if you have a green light. I'm talking about the dangerous dangling you do out in the intersection trying trying to look past the opposite turn lane and lots of traffic coming,etc.

 

[MICKEY88]

If you enter the intersection on a green light and are waiting for traffic to clear so that you can turn left, you are not "running a red light" when you turn. Cars in the intersection (including those waiting to turn left) have the right of way over cars that are not in the intersection (even if their light just turned green.) Now, if you enter the intersection after the light has turned red, then you are running a red light.

that might be the law in NY, but in PA if any part of your car is in the intersection when the light turns red, it is a ticketable offense, that is the purpose of the yellow, to warn you that the light is about to turn red, so that you can stop in time, not so you can race the light, which is what a lot of drivers do these days

 

[KAMLEM]

if you pull into the intersection to wait to make a left turn, wouldn't you be blocking traffic if anyone coming the other way wanted to turn left...

Not in most intersections.

and regardless of whether or not that is legal, it's pretty standard nationwide, that if you are in the intersection when the light turns red, it is a ticketable offense..., why risk it...

That's not necessarily true. I just saw a judge rule otherwise.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I pull into the intersection when I believe that I can go before the light turns red, ie- not a busy intersection. But if its one where there is a steady stream of cars I don't pull in the middle because I dont want to be stuck in the middle when the light turns red, because where I live there is a lot of red light cameras, so its not worth it to make the left once the lights gone red.